London Design Biennale 2018: A Sensory Sprint Through the World
Picture this: a three‑week carnival of sound, scent, and splashy installations that invites you to feel the vibes of every corner of the globe, all while keeping Brexit’s “island mentality” at bay.
“Emotional States” – Turning the Arts into a Mood‑Lifting Hangout
Creative director Christopher Turner says the whole show was born out of the political turbulence spinning around us. “We live in an emotionally turbulent, politically polarised time,” he told us. “The theme ‘Emotional States’ was a direct response – a way to confront what’s swirling outside the art galleries.” He also notes the Biennale was set as a counter‑measure to Britain’s looming departure from the EU.
What the Exhibition Breaks Down:
- 35 million square centimetres of experience spread across 40 countries – from Beijing to Ottawa and even Saudi Arabia.
- A walkthrough of the world’s most diverse creative minds, all under one roof at Somerset House.
- Vivid, interactive sites that let you live the adventures of different cultures.
World‑Wide Experiences to Ignite Your Senses
Indigo in India – You’re dropped right into the heart of an indigo production site. Spatter of workers’ chatter, the earthy whiff of the dye, and projections set you as the centrepiece of an industrial dream.
Riga’s Rain‑edged Window – Imagine a glass soaked in condensation where you can etch notes. Ahead of your ears is a storm’s rumble and behind your nose – the scent of a Latvian forest. The exhibit says, “Nature is again, at our fingertips. Let’s rethink its echo in our lives.”
Hong Kong’s Olfactory Playground – Paint a paper, scratch a green note, and bam! You’re nose‑inclined to either antiseptic opium or a roast duck. “Now taste memories,” says the curator. A nod to Proust and his Madeleine moments.
Playful Steam‑Bubbles of Emotion
Greek Myth Throwback – A 17‑metre tunnel frames the story of Icarus, Antigone and Prometheus. Each step flits between curiosity, awe and frustration – the labyrinth of human rebellion.
Colombian Echoes – David Del Valle drops a cascade on the complex feelings of joy, pride, and pain, challenging stereotypes over extremist tales.
Forensic Architecture: Pawning Art for Justice
They’re not here to sell you design fancy. Instead, they empower ordinary people to photograph and snapshot destroyed Yazidi sites. Their methods? Attach a plastic bottle to a camera, hitch it to a kite, and come up with aerial proof for reconstruction. They’re even gunning for the Turner Prize.
Turner’s Final Thought
“We’re not game‑changing evangelists,” says Turner. “But events like this can lend a little hope that inclusiveness, international creative dialogue, and good vibes stay in the city’s pulse.”
And so, the London Design Biennale serves not merely as a cosmopolitan showcase but as a caffeine‑packed, globally scented antidote to isolation. Cheers to a world forever switching lanes and never folding back into one’s own bubble.
